WILFRED Bouma has hailed Villa's defence as the key to their continued good form in the Premiership which sees Martin O'Neill's side still immersed in the European shake-up.

WILFRED Bouma has hailed Villa's defence as the key to their continued good form in the Premiership which sees Martin O'Neill's side still immersed in the European shake-up.

Bouma believes Villa's strength in recent weeks has been the back four who have now kept three clean sheets on the trot in the league.

They have not conceded in the Premiership since Luis Garcia hammered Liverpool's third at Anfield 320 minutes of football ago.

"We were under a lot of pressure at Wigan," he said. "And I think because we worked so hard, a point was the maximum we could have hoped for.

"In the end we were pleased. We hope to get as many clean sheets as possible."

Bouma believes back-to-back home games can keep Villa firmly involved in the top six.

They face Middlesbrough and Manchester City at home and the Dutchman says confidence is high.

"We are looking forward to every game, especially the home ones," he said. "We'd like to push on in the top six but we don't underestimate any team.

"If you see the results in the last couple of weeks, it shows that anything is possible.

"We have got good self-belief. "When we play at home in front of our own supporters, hopefully we can grab some more points again."

Bouma says Villa just about deserved their point at Wigan.

"I admit Wigan's form was in the back of our minds a little bit, but we were also in a good position going into the game and we came here to win.

"Although from the beginning that looked very hard to accomplish, so in the end we were pleased with this result. Thomas made a great save in the second minute.

"If we had conceded then we would have been on the back foot. It was a team performance and it starts up front, which makes it a lot easier for us at the back. It is always handy if you score once, but unfortunately we couldn't."

Bouma admits that having started the four matches he is now starting to feel a part of things again.

"The first couple of weeks of the season were hard for me because I got an injury. I've tried to do my best and work as hard as possible, but now I am back in the side and hopefully I can continue and we can build on this.